Opening Day Part 2 was much more exciting for a good amount of our League.The Phillies pulled off quite a ninth-inning comeback, hitting six singles in seven straight at-bats to win the game.
And who said the Phils would miss Jayson Werth?
Werth batted .151 last season with runners on base last season, and his two replacements provided the hits to tie and win the game.
Ben Francisco singled a run to cut it to 4-3, and after Chase Utley’s replacement Wilson Valdez singled in the tying run, John Mayberry Jr. singled in the game-winner, spoiling Brett Myers’ return to Philly, where he, of course, spoiled Roy Halladay’s first start of the season.
What transpired yesterday wasn’t just good to see because two guys showed that the loss of Werth can be dealt; but rather, it was great to see because it was something that was missing from last season’s club — the ability to string together clutch hits and win a game.
If it was a Ryan Howard, Jayson Werth or Raul Ibanez homer, the Phils were in trouble.
Instead, we saw Jimmy Rollins looking great in the two-hole, scoring twice and going 2-for-4.
He will continue to be the key, and if he continues to hit in the three-hole, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Chase Utley — if and when he returns — moved to either the two, six or seven hole. Wilson Valdez went 2-for-4, including his clutch RBI in the ninth.
The biggest note from Friday’s game: Five runs scored, none on home runs for the Phillies.
Other notes from Opening Day Part 2
1. The season is over in Cleveland. The opener had more points than the Cleveland Browns generally produce (25) and Indians starter Fausto Carmona gave up 10 runs on 11 hits and one walk in three innings.
I’d tell Cleveland fans to just pack it in until football season, but they might get a chance to see the Indians try again on an Opening Day before another snap is taken on the football field.
On a positive note, Carlos Santana went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and three RBIs. He homered in the seventh when the game was all but decided. Better luck in Game 2, guys.
2. After one game, Jeremy Guthrie has a better case to be the AL Cy Young winner than David Price. Of course it’s extremely early, but Guthrie outdueled his AL East counterpart, tossing eight innings of shutout ball.
Price gave up four runs in his seven innings and took the loss.
It was a bad start for the Slammers, who (1) had Guthrie last season, and (2) lost Orioles No. 2 starter Brian Matusz to the DL.
Vandelay snagged Guthrie off the waiver wire, which is a great move to make after a day like yesterday, but with Guthrie, owners have to be cautious. He has days like Friday, and then he has days that make you wish you never start him. If he can keep it going, this could be one of the top waiver wire gems of 2011.
3. Not to touch on this again, but the Yankees showed in their Opening Day why it was important to have shutdown guys in the eighth and ninth.
The Red Sox did the same Friday in their opener, just in a different fashion.
Daniel Bard gave up four runs in the eighth to help the Rangers win 9-5. This came after a disappointing start by Jon Lester. It’s early, but that’s a one-game lead for the Yankees.
4. Ulbaldo Jimenez will not be the storyline for April and May in 2011.
Last season, the buzz was all around him as he posted a minuscule ERA, mixed in with a no-hitter of the Braves, all in the first two months. Then, he returned to Earth and it appears he’s still here for 2011.
He gave up six runs — five earned — in six innings and struck out just one. He also surrendered two home runs; he didn’t allow one if all of April last season.
This is an area of concern for the Gamblers, but then again, he can at least feel better about Clayton Kershaw.
5. Just in case you didn’t hear about it, Felix Hernandez threw a complete-game, striking out five. The only runs he gave up came on a two-run homer in the first. Following that, he pitched eight scoreless innings.
And surprisingly, he got some run support, something the Cy Young winner didn’t get last season.
6. Brandon Belt homered. I really have nothing to add to this. I just watched him hit his first career homer last night and it was exciting to see. The three-run shot made the big Joey Votto on my back feel not so heavy.
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